Broader Societal Issues of Nanotechnology

Nanoscale science and engineering are providing unprecedented understanding and control over the basic building blocks of matter, leading to increased coherence in knowledge, technology, and education. The main reason for developing nanotechnology is to advance broad societal goals such as improved comprehension of nature, increased productivity, better healthcare, and extending the limits of sustainable development and of human potential. This paper outlines societal implication activities in nanotechnology R&D programs. The US National Nanotechnology Initiative annual investment in research with educational and societal implications is estimated at about $30 million (of which National Science Foundation (NSF) awards about $23 million including contributions to student fellowships), and in nanoscale research with relevance to environment at about $50 million (of which NSF awards about $30 million and EPA about $6 million). An appeal is made to researchers and funding organizations worldwide to take timely and responsible advantage of the new technology for economic and sustainable development, to initiate societal implications studies from the beginning of the nanotechnology programs, and to communicate effectively the goals and potential risks with research users and the public.     

随机环境中分枝过程的等价定理

给定了随机环境中分枝过程(BPRE)的精确定义,讨论了有关的可测性问题和BPRE的基本性质．在此基础上,证明了BPRE的一个等价定理．     

随机环境下的对称零程过程的大偏差原理

利用相对熵方法及鞅方法给出了随机环境下的对称零程过程的经验测度的收敛速度函数.     

Nonlinear Filtering for Diffusions in Random Environments

Suppose that the signal X to be estimated is a diffusion process in a random medium W and the signal is correlated with the observation noise. We study the historical filtering problem concerned with estimating the signal path up until the current time based upon the back observations. Using Dirichlet form theory, we introduce a filtering model for general rough signal X ^W and establish a multiple Wiener integrals representation for the unnormalized pathspace filtering process. Then, we construct a precise nonlinear filtering model for the process X itself and give the corresponding Wiener chaos decomposition.     

Assessment of the quality of reedbeds using holomicroscopic moiré

Holographic interferometry is proposed to detect the change in the mechanical responses of reed stems growing in eutrophic, as compared with those in healthy, water bodies. The detection of the difference in behaviour could be a sensitive way to index the degree of eutrophication. An interferometric method based on holomicroscopic moiré is developed and preliminary results obtained are presented.     

Formation of metallic NbSe2 nanotubes and nanofibers

We succeed in synthesizing NbSe₂ nanotubes along with nanofibers by chemical vapor transportation. They are stable crystalline systems and can be synthesized reproducibly in a nearly equilibrium reacting process. We have investigated these nanosize structures of NbSe₂ by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Both of the structures have a similar size of 100–200 nm in diameter. While nanotubes consist of rolled-up NbSe₂ layers, nanofibers are a pile of thin flat layers. We propose a mechanism of the formation of NbSe₂ nanotubes and nanofibers on the basis of deseleniditive transition from a NbSe₃ fiber-shaped crystal. We also measured electrical resistance of the nanofibers with conductive atomic force microscopy and demonstrated that the material show metallic behavior at room temperature.     

半直线上随机环境中的随机游动的常返性

本文讨论半直线上随机环境中的随机游动的常返性。在独立环境下，主要通过强大数定律，找到了非常返和正常返的一个充分条件下，并将这一结果推广到一些特殊情情形。在一般的随机环境下，主要通过数列的有界性，给出了常返与零常返的一个充分条件。     

周期二维Lotka—Volterra系统的一些新结果

该文研究周期二维Lotka－Volterra捕食食饵系统解的有界性，持续生存性以及正周期解的存在性和全局稳定性．并将结果推广到食饵有补充的周期二维Lotka－Volterra竞争系统上去，得到了一系列新的结果，改进和推广了文[1—3]的主要结论．     

USING A SYSTEM DYNAMICS APPROACH TO MODEL SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS FOR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS IN AUSTRALIA

ABSTRACT. An indicator defined as a function of the total water diversion through the Coleambally canal and the potential irrigation demand is selected to represent the sustainability of the irrigation water system in the Coleambally irrigation area, Australia. A simulation procedure using a system dynamics approach was developed to evaluate the indicator. The procedure includes water diversion assessment, potential crop water demand and total gross margin. Three cases of water supply options (surface water, ground water pumping and water trading), two cases of changes in the total agricultural area and three cropping pattern scenarios were simulated to better understand their impact on sustainability. The simulated results indicate that increasing the agricultural area reduces the sustainability of the irrigation system because the demand of water increased despite increase in the gross margin. The scenarios show that imposed water trading and ground water pumping would considerably increase the supply system having a positive impact on the sustainability. The paper concludes that a multi‐objective sustainability indicator taking account of economic and environmental issues could be more useful.     

Potentiometric studies on the complexation equilibria between some trivalent lanthanide metal ions and biologically active 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (HNATS)

Summary The chelation behaviour of some trivalent lanthanide and yttrium metal ion with biologically active 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (HNATS) has been investigated by potentiomotric measurements at 20±0.5°C in 75% (v/v) dioxane-water medium at various ionic strengths of sodium perchlorate. The method of Bjerrum and Calvin, as modified by Irving and Rossotti has been used to find out the values of (average number of ligand bound per metal ion) andpL (free ligand exponent). The formation constants of metal chelates have been computed on a PC-XT computer, using a program patterned after that of Sullivan et al. to give _n values using weighted least squares method. TheS _min values (S _min =²) have been calculated. The order of formation constants of chelates was found to be: La³⁺3+3+3+3+3+3+3+3+3+. The formation constants of the chelates formed have been correlated to size and ionization potentials of the metal ions.

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Potentiometrische Untersuchungen der Komplexierungsgleichgewichte zwischen einigen trivalenten Metallionen und biologisch aktivem 2-Hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyd-thiosemicarbazon (HNATS)

Zusammenfassung Es wurde das Chelierungsverhalten einiger trivalenter Lanthanidenionen mit biologisch aktivem 2-Hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyd-thiosemicarbazon (HNATS) mittels potentiometrischer Messungen bei 20±0.5°C in 75% (v/v) Dioxan-Wasser bei verschiedener Ionenstärke an Natriumperchlorat untersucht. Die Methode nach Bjerrum und Calvin in der Modifikation nach Irving und Rossotti wurde zur Ermittlung der Werte (mittlere Anzahl an Liganden pro Metallion) undpL (Exponent an freiem Liganden) verwendet. Die Komplexbildungskonstanten wurden in Anlehnung an Sullivan et al. an einem PC-XT Computer errechnet. DieS _min-Werte (S _min=²) wurden ebenfalls bestimmt. Die Reihung der Chelatbildungskonstanten war: La³⁺3+3+3+3+3+3+3+3+3+. Die Bildungskonstanten sind mit der Größe und dem Ionisierungspotential der Metallionen zu korrelieren.